Manufacturers: Nuclear Energy Is Key to Competitiveness

Washington, D.C., 02/09/12 -  National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons issued this statement on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) approval of the new Vogtle nuclear power plant:
 
“This decision today by the NRC is a welcome step toward affordable energy production in the United States and a boost to jobs. An ‘all-of-the-above’ approach to energy must include the continued development of nuclear energy, and we are hopeful that the NRC will move forward with the streamlined licensing and permitting process to allow for the construction of additional plants throughout the country.

Manufacturers use one-third of the energy consumed in the Unites States, so building new reliable sources of energy is essential to our competitiveness. Building new nuclear power plants also means the creation of quality jobs for Americans at a time when we need them the most. The Vogtle plant alone will create 5,000 new jobs and will have a tremendous positive impact for the many jobs in the nuclear energy supply chain. 

Manufacturers have long called for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy as outlined in the NAM’s roadmap of policies to keep manufacturing in the United States competitive, A Manufacturing Renaissance: Four Goals for Economic Growth.